Iron axe head, Auburn, ca. 1700

Archaeologists study objects to understand life ways of the past. Close examination of artifacts can reveal how things were made or used, where they came from, and in this way provide tangible evidence about daily life and connections to the natural world.

This iron ax was found at the head of Lake Auburn. Europeans probably traded it to Native Americans for furs or other materials. It is made in the French style.

Glooskap looking at the whale smoking his pipe

Glooskap came first of all into this country . . . into the land of the Wabanaki, next to sunrise. There were no Indians here then. And in this way, he made man: He took his bow and arrows and shot at trees, the basket-trees, the Ash. Then Indians came out of the bark of the Ash-trees.

Glooskap and Keanke spearing the whale

One particular duty above all I must mention and you must obey; that is, you must teach the people never to leave this land to seek other lands; so when you make yourself a vessel let it be so made that it will only be large enough to serve you on the rivers and lakes, because when I first opened my eyes I beheld large bodies of water all around the land upon which we move and stand; and in the seventy times seven nights the Great Spirit said unto me, "There shall be other people live on the land as well as your people."

from The Life and Traditions of the Red Man by Penobscot Indian Joseph Nicolar, 1893.

Penobscot button basket, ca. 1934

Many Indian artists, including Theresa Camilla Lyon Sockalexis, who made this basket that is part of a sewing set, passed along their knowledge and skills to children, grandchildren and other interested tribal members.